Giants Notes: Positive developments emerge as Bumgarner stretches it out

Giants Notes: Positive developments emerge as Bumgarner stretches it out

MILWAUKEE — Madison Bumgarner walked into the dugout during batting practice earlier this week and grabbed one of Jeff Samardzija’s bats. He started gripping it and lightly waving it back and forth, and then he looked up at trainer Dave Groeschner with an expectant look on his face.

No, Bumgarner has not yet been cleared to take batting practice, which is a downer this week. He would regularly take aim at the slide and back concourse here at Miller Park.

There are positive signs elsewhere, however. Bumgarner has played catch nearly every day for the past week, and he’s starting to stretch out the distance. He's at about 90 feet at this point. Bumgarner has avoided giving interviews for the most part, but manager Bruce Bochy said their daily conversations are positive.

“He still has some work ahead of him, but he feels better each day,” Bochy said. “I told him, ‘Be honest, how are you feeling?’ He says as when he starts out, he feels (the shoulder) a little bit. But once he gets going it goes away. “

Bumgarner has had no setbacks during flat-ground throwing, but he’s still a ways away from getting on a mound. Bochy said it could be several more weeks. At this point, Bumgarner is in pre-spring training mode.

In the meantime, the Giants haven’t missed much of a beat with Ty Blach inserted in the rotation. Blach is even taking his Mini Bumgarner routine into batting practice. He hit one halfway up the second deck Monday, earning cheers from the fellow pitchers.

--- Jarrett Parker will be reevaluated once the Giants return home Friday, and after that it could just be a few days before he starts a rehab assignment. He isn’t particularly close to the big leagues, though. Bochy said Parker will need a lengthy rehab assignment, so you’re probably looking at a couple weeks or more in the minors. Bochy said Parker still can make something of a season that started with a starting job.

“There’s plenty of time,” he said. “We’re one-third of the way through the season and he’ll be back, I’m guessing, before we’re at the halfway point.”

Parker was the first Giant to play left field this season. Austin Slater became the 12th on Tuesday. What would Bochy have said if you told him that before the season?

“I would have said things are not going very well in left field,” he said.

That’s an understatement. Entering Tuesday’s game, opening day third baseman Eduardo Nuñez had the most at-bats (66) in left field, followed by Chris Marrero (who is now playing in Japan) and Brandon Belt.

The Giants have already had seven players get at least 10 at-bats in left and Slater should soon make it eight. By comparison, only four players did that all of last season. Only seven Giants got an at-bat in left last season (plus Cory Gearrin, who played a couple minutes defensively).

--- Elias dug deep on the Jeff Samardzija stat we’ve all been tweeting/writing: Samardzija is actually the only pitcher in their recorded history (going back to 1900) to have a seven-start stretch of at least 50 strikeouts and just one walk.

There's no indication that the Giants are considering including Samardzija in any mid-season sale, but he would be an interesting chip. His FIP is down to 2.90 and the xFIP is 2.73, so organizations that avoid the win-loss record will see one of the best starting pitchers in the NL.

MLB rumors: Giants have major presence during Troy Tulowitzki workout

MLB rumors: Giants have major presence during Troy Tulowitzki workout

Free agent infielder Troy Tulowitzki drawing interest from both Bay Area teams is not breaking news.

But if it's news to you, allow me to indulge you.

The veteran shortstop, who was recently released by the Jays, has expressed a willingness to change positions if it would help him find a home on the right team.

During a workout in front of multiple teams, the Giants had the biggest contingent there watching him, according to Yahoo's Jeff Passan:

Of all the teams at free agent SS Troy Tulowitzki's open workout today, the San Francisco Giants have the most impressive presence, league sources tell Yahoo Sports. Among the attendees for the Giants: New president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and manager Bruce Bochy.

While Brandon Crawford and Evan Longoria are locked in on the left side of the Giants infield, Tulo could fit in as a right-handed platoon bat with Joe Panik if he is serious about moving to second base. Manager Bruce Bochy has been talking about a lot as of late about the importance of platooning as the Giants look to fill out their 2019 roster.

"I really believe in platooning when it's the right situation, I do," Bochy said on a recent episode of The Giants Insider Podcast. "Why not? It makes sense when the splits are that significant on a certain hitter. If you can get the right player (off) the bench, now you're getting everybody involved, you're resting guys, you're getting a better matchup. All these things make it easier for me."

First things first, Tulo is still owed $38 million by Toronto, so the monetary factor isn't much of a factor at all (the Giants would only be on the hook for a minimum contract). Farhan Zaidi's theme is wanting smaller contracts both in money and timing terms which sounds very Tulo-esque at the moment.

It's also rumored Tulo wasn't a fan of the Giants growing up, but it's doubtful that's going to be anything of significance. He wants to play even if he did spend a decade playing for the Giants' NL West rival Rockies.

I know I sound like a broken record when we say "if he can stay healthy ... " but that term was almost invented because of guys like him.

When all is said and done, seeing the five-time All-Star in a Bay Area uniform is something we should keep our mind open to.

The Giants, who entered December with just four outfielders on their roster, should more than double that group by the time pitchers and catchers report in early February, and the incumbents won’t necessarily have a leg up.

Team officials don’t seem all that high on the current group, and when Zaidi was asked about the trio of Austin Slater, Chris Shaw and Mac Williamson, he noted how hard it can be to transition to the big leagues.

“One of the toughest things in professional baseball is for a hitter to make the jump from Triple-A to the big leagues, and then when you have to do it in AT&T Park, it doesn’t necessarily detract from the level of difficulty,” he said. “Between those three guys, obviously the major league production wasn’t there, but they’re all highly-regarded prospects and all have strong track records.

“Whether they’re kind of Opening Day guys or wind up being depth and get opportunities later in the season, there’s still confidence that they can be contributors at the major league level.”

Zaidi has said the Giants would be in a great position if they can add enough depth that Dereck Rodriguez and Andrew Suarez start the season in Triple-A or the bullpen, and he surely feels the same about an outfield that was a mess even with Andrew McCutchen last season.

That leads to some urgency for one member of the current group; Williamson is out of options, and although he came the closest to breaking through with a big start to the 2018 season, his year was wrecked by a concussion. Williamson was cleared in September and the Giants expect him to be given a chance to win a job when they report to Scottsdale.

Slater is also strongly in that mix, although he is not a particularly good fit for Zaidi, who helped build a Dodgers lineup powered by homers. Slater hit just one in 2019, and the staff recently relayed the message to him that he’ll need to make swing changes and find a way to tap into more of his natural power.

Shaw has that natural pop, too, but he’ll need a huge spring to make an impression, especially with Zaidi so focused on adding versatile pieces.

The fourth member of the group, Steven Duggar, is in by far the strongest position. Zaidi has long had his eye on the center fielder.

“He’s a guy that I’ve — even before coming into the organization — I really liked as a prospect,” Zaidi said. “I thought he was a tremendous draft by the Giants. He was really productive coming up through the minor leagues, and unfortunately with the injury, I don’t think fans got a chance to see everything he was capable of as he was getting more comfortable and confident at the big league level.”

Duggar is said to be doing well after season-ending shoulder surgery, and team officials continue to light up when discussing his future. Long-term, the Giants view him as an everyday center fielder. Short-term, Zaidi hopes to ease Duggar in a bit and find him a platoon partner, although Duggar has shown an ability to hit lefties throughout his professional career.

“There might be some spots where he sits against tough lefties,” Zaidi said. “I just think that’s a good way to try to keep your entire roster and your bench involved. I could see that happening, but it would be more about not overly taxing one player and trying to put players in the best position to succeed, rather than saying he’s a platoon player or an everyday player.”